Vacuum insulated, mercury controlled, dry ice container



March 3, 1936.

c. w. BOGER 2,032,649

VACUUM INSULATED, MERCURY CONTROLLED,

DRY ICE CONTAINER Filed Jan. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 3, 1936. C w BOGER VACUUM INSULATED, MERCURY CONTROLLED, DRY ICE CONTAINER Filed Jan. 14, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 dyer 1/ March 3, 1936. c. w. BOGER 2,032,649

VACUUM INSULATED, MERCURY CONTROLLED, DRY ICE CONTAINER Filed Jan. 14, 1955 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM INSULATED, MERCURY CON- TROLLED, DRY ICE CONTAINER 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a vacuum insulated, mercury controlled, dry ice container, the general object of the invention being to preserve the ice by keeping the temperature surrounding the same 5 as nearly as possible the same temperature as that of the ice, thus reducing evaporation to a minimum and also to keep objectionable fumes from the ice from entering the service compartments.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic means for opening and closing the doors which control openings leading from the cold chamber to the service compartments, according to the temperature desired in the service compartments.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a refrigerator constructed in accordance with this invention, this view showing one manner of carrying out the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the combined partition member and shelf arrangement used in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the doorequipped partition with the automatic control means for said doors.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through an upper corner of the refrigerator 40 shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the thermostat.

Fig. '7 is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

The drawings show the invention in use in a refrigerator but it will of course be understood that the invention can be applied to other apparatus.

In these drawings, the letter A indicates the lower part of the refrigerator, the letter B the upper portion thereof, the letter C a horizontal partition separating these two parts, and the letter D indicates the lid or top part of the refrigerator. All of these portions are of hollow construction with a central plate I dividing the chamber formed by the hollow parts into two spaces from which the air is drawn by any suitable means so that each wall forms a double vacuum space. The outer vacuum space insulates practically all heat from the center wall I while the inner vacuum space insulates practically all cold from the center wall so that this center wall is neutral. It therefore follows that the temperature given off by the ice in the ice container causes the temperature around the ice to be practically the same as the ice, thus reducing evaporation of the ice to a minimum.

. Openings 2 are formed in the partition member C and are controlled by the doors 3. These doors are also provided with double vacuum spaces as shown and I prefer to make the parts A and B as Well as the lid or top piece D and these doors of glass and the inner walls which are exposed to the vacuum are silvered for the purpose of reflection of heat or cold.

A partition plate 4 preferably of brass is held in spaced relation above the partition member C by the inwardly extending flanges 5 on the internal walls of the part B and gaskets 6 are placed between the flanges and the edges of the plate 4, at the edges of the doors and whenever two parts come together, as shown, so as to form an air-tight joint between the parts. Vertical partition members i extend from the plate 4 to the top part D and divide the upper portion of the refrigerator into a centrally arranged ice chamber and side compartments and shelves 8 are carried by a vertical plate 9 extending upwardly from the plate and are located in one of these side compartments so that this compartment can be used for freezing ice cubes. One or more shelves [0 may be placed in the other side compartment and this compartment may be used for cold storage purposes. As shown, the partition members 1 are formed also with double vacuum spaces and these partition members with their gaskets and the plate 4 make the side compartments air-tight and prevents fumes from the ice from entering them.

The ice sets on that part of the plate 4 which forms the bottom of the central compartment as shown in Fig. 1 and a vent H is formed in the top member D and is in communication with the ice compartment and permit the fumes of the ice to escape.

By using the described plate, a practically perfect temperature conductor is provided for the dry ice so that the temperature in the space between the brass plate 4 and the partition member C will be practically the same as the ice, when the doors 3 are closed.

A olevis bolt H depends from the plate 4 and passes through the partition members C and. a fulcrum lever I2 is pivoted intermediate its ends tothe lower end of, this bolt as shown at I2, this lever having substantially forked ends curving upwardly and connected with the lower faces of the doors, this lever balancing the weight of the two doors. The bolt I I is formed of non-conducting material and this manner of supporting the doors permits them to swing freely open and shut. An arm I3, made of non-conducting material, extends from one end of the lever I I and has its outer end of substantially ring-shape as shown at I4 to receive the reduced lower end of a vertical thermostat cylinder I5, the parts being connected together by a set screw I6 as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. The cylinder I5 contains mercury I! and a small cylinder IB extends upwardly from the bottom of the main cylinder I5 and has its upper end open and a piston I9 is slidably arranged in the cylinder I8 and is adapted to be adjusted vertically by an adjusting screw 20 which is threaded through a hole in the lower'end of the cylinder I5. An elongated small cylinder 2I extends into the cylinder I5 from the top thereof and has a portion slightly projecting from the top with its inner or lower end slightly spaced from the cylinder I8. A plunger rod 22 is slidably arranged in the cylinder 2I and has its upper end contacting a portion of the lower face of the partition member 0. A spring 23 bears against a part of the fulcrum lever I2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 so that as the mercury expands, the spring will allow opening movement of the doors, one door moving upwardly and the other downwardly but when the mercury contracts, it will force the plunger rod 22 downwardly or inwardly so that the arm I3 will rock the lever I2 and. thus close the doors. By adjusting the piston IS in cylinder I8 by means of the adjusting screw 20, the action of the mercury or the plunger rod 22 can be reg- 'ulated so that the doors can be made to open when the temperature in the service compartments reaches a predetermined degree.

Spiral fins 24 are formed on the cylinder I5 so that the slight temperature changes will be readily picked up by these fins and transferred through the cylinder I5 to the mercury, thus giving prompt action of the thermostat upon the slightest temperature change.

A bafile plate 25 depends from the partition member B between the thermostat and the adjacent door and acts to prevent cold air passing through said doorway from striking directly the thermostat which might cause inaccurate control.

Any desired number of shelves 25 may be placed in the lower part of the refrigerator as shown in Fig. l.

Thus, it will be seen that when the temperature in the service compartments in the lower part of the refrigerator rising to a point which will cause expansion of the mercury in the thermostat, the mercury will expand and will raise the plunger rod 22 which causes the arm I3 to rock the lever .II so as to lower one door and raise the other door and this will permit a circulation of the air in said service compartment into the space between the plate 4 and the partition member 0 If desired, a similar arrangement of doors and thermostatically controlled means can be provided for the otherservice compartments.

As before stated, the invention is shown in use on a refrigerator but it is to be understood that the invention can be used on many different devices and in many different ways, and with this invention, the maximum preserving effect of dry ice is secured with the minimum amount of ice.

It is' thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1'. An apparatus of the class described comprising a chamber for receiving dry ice, 2. cold air chamber, a portion of the wall of which is formed of brass and forming the bottom wall of the ice chamber, a second chamber, a partition member separating the second chamber from the cold air chamber, said partition member having an upwardly opening door and a downwardly moving door for closing said openings therein, a fulcrum lever pivotally supported in the second chamber and having its ends connected to the lower faces of the doors, a spring engaging the fulcrum lever for normally holding the doors in closed position, an adjustable mercury thermostat in the second chamber, an arm connected with one end of the fulcrum lever and with said thermostat for opening the doors when the.tem perature in the second chamber rises to. a certain degree, the doors, the partition member and the walls of the chambers having double vacuum spaces therein.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a cold air chamber, means for maintaining air in said chamber cold, a service compartment having a wall separating the same from the cold air chamber, said wall having a pair of spaced openings therein, an upwardly opening door and a downwardly opening door for closing said openings, a fulcrum lever pivotally supported in the service compartment and having its ends connected to the lower faces of the doors, a spring for holding the fulcrum lever in position for holding the doors in closed position, and thermostatic means in the service compartment and connected with the lever for causing said lever to open the doors when the temperature in said compartment rises to a certain degree.

CHARLES WILLFORD BOGER. 

